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North Muskegon Elementarys Approved Academic Structure

Steven J. Sanocki, Ph.D.
June 2016
North Muskegon Elementary (NME) is proud to function as a professional learning community, where curriculum,
instruction, and assessment decision-making is predicated on research that is focused on student learning and
growth. Essential to our work are four crucial questions:

What do we want each student to learn?

How will we know when each student has learned it?
How will we respond when a student experiences difficulty in learning?
How will we respond when a student already knows it?
(DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many, 2010)
Through collaborative processes, consensus-building protocols, action research, surveying and applying relevant
educational research literature, and applying our collective professional expertise that encompasses knowledge of
the whole child at each developmental stage, we offer the following academic structure for our school:
Discovery Kindergarten (DK): Students are recommended through a testing and observation process at
Kindergarten Round-Up. Our DK curriculum combines developmentally appropriate connections to the
Kindergarten Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and Michigan
Social Studies Standards. Class sizes are limited, whenever possible, to approximately 15-19 students. Students
attend half-days. Two sections are offered (AM and PM) and are taught by one teacher who collaborates regularly
with his/her Kindergarten colleagues for consistency of program. At least one common planning time per month is
afforded to the DK teacher to collaborate with his/her Kindergarten colleagues.
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade: Our K-2 curriculum is based upon the CCSS, NGSS, and Michigan Social Studies
Standards. These grades are foundational grades where students are primarily learning to read and write, while also
developing fundamental concepts in the core subject areas (Math, English Language Arts (ELA)/Reading, Science
and Social Studies). Three sections are offered at each grade level in a self-contained classroom structure. Teachers
collaborate in common planning times per grade level.
3rd - 5th Grade: Our 3rd - 5th grade curriculum is also based upon the CCSS, NGSS, and Michigan Social Studies
Standards. These grades progressively move students from learning to read to reading to learn through
increased depth in the core subject areas. The North Muskegon Elementary Collaborative Teaching Model (CTM) is
employed for these grades (see below).
The NME CTM is structured so that teams of three teachers in each grade operate as collaborative teaching
teams in the following manner:

Each teacher (the homeroom teacher) within a grade level instructs:

ELA/Reading
Word Skills (spelling, vocabulary, grammar)
Math

Specific teachers (the rotation teachers) within a grade level instruct (35 minutes each):
Writing
Science
Social Studies

Teaching teams create common philosophies for homework and behavior.

Teachers collaborate in common planning times per grade level.

Classrooms are arranged into grade-level groupings/hallways.

Rationale for NMEs CTM:

Flow within a grade level
Flexibility with time
Ability for teachers to specialize in subject areas
To continue to build collaboration in grade level and between grade levels
To better know all students within a grade level
Stability with homerooms
Increased opportunities to integrate subjects
Increased flexibility with intervention and What I Need Now (WINN) times
Allows for grade level identity
Provides the opportunity for teachers to design a grade level experience
Grade level/team PLCs
Grade level groupings/hallways
Common procedures/expectations within each grade level
Increased consistency in 3rd - 5th grades in all areas and expectations
Common philosophy/collaboration on homework/projects and behavior
Intervention: Classroom teachers collaborate regularly with our Interventionists and operate within a Multi-Tiered
System of Supports (MTSS). Formative and summative assessment data is examined and students are afforded
just-in-time supports via WINN time, Child Study referral processes, Title I Targeted Assistance qualification and
programming, and/or Special Education qualification and services. Interventionists collaborate in common planning
times at least once per week, but often on a daily basis. In addition, use of multiple funding sources and detailed
tracking of time and services allows students to access the breadth of the skillsets of our Interventionists.
Specials: Specials afford our students avenues to explore and express themselves beyond academics. Specials also
provide a unique avenue for students and teachers to integrate academic subjects. All DK-5 students are afforded
Physical Education, Art, and Music on a regular, rotating basis every day (except half-days) throughout the school
year. This structure and rotation allows for common planning time for core-subject area teachers. Music at the 2nd
Grade level is provided in the form of a Strings experience. In addition, Strings is offered as an extra special
opportunity within the school day (via a student/parent contract) at the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade levels. Finally, Band
is offered at the 5th Grade level as an extra special as well (via student/parent contract).
Extra-Curricular Activities: While NME does not have officially sponsored extra-curricular activities comparable
to the Middle School or High School levels, the greater North Muskegon community partners with the school to
provide opportunities (in the form of age-appropriate camps, team sports, extra specials within the school day, etc.)
such as:
Football
Cheerleading
Soccer
Basketball
Baseball
Volleyball
Drama
Jr. Great Books
French

Destination Imagination
3rd - 5th Grade Strings (extra special opportunity within the school day)
5th Grade Band (extra special opportunity within the school day)
Boy Scouts
Girl Scouts
Tutor Room (upon recommendation from a teacher)
Robotics
Girls on the Run